Throughout the entire 2008 MLB season, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto media, and Jays fans all wondered whether AJ Burnett would opt out of the remaining 2 years of his contract, walking away from a guaranteed $24 million (all funds US) to test free agency. Speculation was he would given the market for pitchers, the signing rate, and one of the best seasons of his career. Many criticized Toronto General Manager, JP Ricciardi, for not trying to trade AJ at the deadline. Others laid into JP for not trying hard enough to re-sign AJ to an extension.